Big West Championship – Friday, Oct. 27

• The Cal State Bakersfield Cross Country team raced at the Big West Cross Country Championships hosted by Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo over the weekend.
• 7 Bakersfield athletes lined up for the 6,000-meter race on Friday morning against the other nine schools in the Big West. 
• Senior Helena Valentic led the way for the `Runners for the ninth straight meet dating back to last year. 
• The Croatian finished the race in 35th overall with a time of 22:12.6. Valentic bettered her championship place from a year ago, where she placed 54th overall. 
• Junior Neyda Martinez was the second `Runner to finish the race. She was the consistent #2 finisher for CSUB all season long. 
• Martinez finished with a time of 25:36.7.
• Rounding out the top five for Bakersfield are Alea Gaona, Jayden Reyes Samiento, and Alicia Murralles. 
• Bakersfield finished in tenth place with a total of 300 points, seven points better than last year’s results. 
• Valentic will be the only `Runner representing CSUB at NCAA West Regionals in Sacramento on Friday, Nov. 10.

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• The Cal State Bakersfield men’s soccer season came to an unfortunate end on Saturday evening as anything less than a win meant missing out on the Big West tournament.
• Although a draw is typically an acceptable result, the loss of playoffs will certainly still be fresh. However, the Roadrunners have many wonderful aspects of the season to look back on.
  • Many wrote off CSUB’s chances when a sudden coaching change so close to the season shook up the squad. Adam Grant’s appointment turned out to be anything but a hindrance.
  • Grant guided a team, almost half of which were true freshmen, to one of the finest runs of form in program history, a nine game unbeaten streak that saw the `Runners tied for first in the conference at points.
• With the chips down and a win-and-in scenario deciding between playoffs or the offseason, Bakersfield did everything it could to battle a Cal Poly team that was able to weather the storm and defend to a draw 1-1 through 90 minutes.

CSUB 1, Cal Poly 1 – Saturday, Oct. 28

• In a physical clash of teams fighting for their lives, the `Runners had a roaring start, putting together a fantastic team play.
  • The wing back who was honored on Senior Night, Bryson Hankins, passed along the grass to Rashaad Ogun inside the box who then a streaking Connor Mautino to poke home the game’s first goal just over seven minutes in.
• As the close quarters combat of speed, high-pressing, and hard tackles continued, Cal Poly’s Joaquin Torres took advantage of some confusion and chaos in front of CSUB’s net to tie the game in the 29th-minute.
• Cal Poly carried the momentum gained from the tying goal through the first half and out of the break. The Mustangs continued to play a physical, high-line game to keep CSUB’s wing-play from succeeding.
• As the landscape of the Big West started to clear up, Cal Poly’s strategy changed from playing aggressively for a win to playing more conservatively to draw.
• Towards the end, the `Runners found a good groove with a few quality chances but the Cal Poly defense and keeper were able to stop all of them handedly.

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• Cal State Bakersfield's women’s volleyball team is heading back on the road for the next two weeks as we head into the end of the season. 
• Bakersfield Native moves up against in the Big West standings for Kills per set. She is currently 11th having an average of 2.78 kills per set for the season. 
• Primary setter for the roadrunners, Nene Hawkins continues her impact as well, ranking fifth in the big west with 7.12 assist per set. 
• After a tough weekend, freshman Sydney Dunning ties the lead of 21 kills (3 kills per set) with Breklyn Pulling, another impactful player. 

  CSUB 1, CSUN 3 – Thursday, Oct. 26

• Bakersfield had the opportunity to play the Matadors for the second time this season, this time playing at Northridge home court. 
•  Each set was close between CSUN and CSUB, but the matadors got the upper hand for sets one and two. 
• Set three, Bakersfield made a comeback, with Breklyn Pulling leading the set with 5 kills paired with a .500 hitting percentage. 
• CSUN took set 4, 25-23 with the `Runners fighting for every point. 
• Pulling would lead Bakersfield in offensively, with 16 kills. Along with Ava palm who had 9 kills and 15 digs defensively. 

CSUB 0, Hawai’i – Saturday, Oct. 28

• After a game on the road, the Roadrunners were back at home for another game against Hawai’i.
• Hawai’i is currently 10-2 in conference play, so it would be one of Bakersfield’s toughest matches. 
• The game was won by the Rainbow Wahine in three set, 25-16, 25-18, 25-19.
• Ava Palm and freshman Sydney Dunning lead the team in kills with 9 each, with Palm having three blocks for the game. 

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• Without the hope of playoffs to fight for, the Cal State Bakersfield women’s soccer team closed the season in relaxed fashion on Senior Night against Cal State Fullerton last Thursday.
• Despite a hard-fought effort against prospectively the conference’s top team, the Roadrunners were unable to quell the Titans’ attack, as Fullerton went on to secure the Big West title 4-0.
• Bakersfield celebrated eight seniors who played their final game in the blue, gold, and white, including star players Kiara Oliver, Penny Smith, Chloe Sizemore, and Dome Rodriguez, who spent the week with her Ecuadorian senior national team.
• Two of the aforementioned senior, Rodriguez and Smith, secured All-Big West Honorable Mentions with Smith earning hers for the second straight season.

CSUB 0, Cal State Fullerton 4 – Thursday, Oct. 26

• Cal State Fullerton was clearly playing for a title from the onset, as the Titans came out aggressive and dominating possession. Just four minutes in, Fullerton’s Gracie Raymond found the back of Bakersfield’s net.
• Despite a lull in the scoring, the `Runners were unable to settle down the ball or find a consistent play style that worked to counteract Fullerton’s lethal attack.
• The Titans scored again, just before the half, to take a commanding 2-0 lead into the break.
• Two quick goals coming out of halftime solidified Fullerton’s victory with the `Runners powerless to stop what would eventually become the Big West regular season winners.
• Despite the result, Bakersfield and first-year head coach Bernardo Silva have a lot of positives to look back on and will surely look forward to building in year two.

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